Portuguese Weather Vocabulary
Learn essential Portuguese weather vocabulary and expressions. Perfect for making small talk and planning activities with your Portuguese-speaking partner.
Weather is a universal conversation topic, but Portuguese handles it with a few useful patterns that English speakers do not always expect. The biggest one is that weather often uses impersonal verbs such as está and faz, so learning a few set phrases will help you sound natural quickly. Whether you are planning a beach day in Rio, a stroll through Lisbon, or just making small talk with your partner's family, weather vocabulary is an easy win.
Asking About the Weather
Phrase to Learn
Como está o tempo hoje?
How is the weather today?
[ KOH-moo esh-TAH oo TEM-poo OH-zhee ]
The most common way to ask about current weather conditions
Pronunciation: kwahl eh ah preh-vee-ZOWN doo TEM-poo
"Amor, qual é a previsão do tempo para o fim de semana? (Love, what is the weather forecast for the weekend?)"
Weather and Conversation
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, weather talk is a common way to start conversations. It is considered polite small talk, especially with acquaintances or when meeting your partner's family for the first time.
Sunny and Warm Weather
Pronunciation: esh-TAH sohl / esh-TAH en-soh-lah-RAH-doo
"Que bom, está sol hoje! Vamos à praia?" (Great, it is sunny today! Shall we go to the beach?)
Pronunciation: esh-TAH KEN-chee
"Está muito quente para sair agora. (It is too hot to go out now.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH kah-LOR
"Está tanto calor hoje! (It is so warm today!) Note: In Portuguese, you say 'está calor,' not 'está quente calor.'"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH ah-bah-FAH-doo
"Está abafado demais. Preciso de ar condicionado. (It is too muggy. I need air conditioning.)"
Cold Weather
Pronunciation: esh-TAH FREE-oo
"Está frio lá fora. Vista um casaco. (It is cold outside. Wear a coat.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH zheh-LAH-doo
"Hoje está gelado! Vamos ficar em casa. (Today it is freezing! Let us stay home.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH FRESH-koo
"O tempo está fresco e agradável. (The weather is cool and pleasant.)"
Rainy and Cloudy Weather
Verb Usage with Weather
Portuguese uses impersonal verbs for weather. "Está chovendo" (It is raining) does not have a real subject. The "it" in English does not translate. You simply say "Está chovendo" or in Portugal often "Está a chover."
Pronunciation: esh-TAH shoh-VEN-doo / esh-TAH ah shoh-VEHR
"Está chovendo muito forte. (It is raining very hard.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH noo-BLAH-doo
"O céu está nublado, mas não vai chover. (The sky is cloudy, but it will not rain.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH shoo-VOH-zoo
"O inverno aqui é muito chuvoso. (Winter here is very rainy.)"
Pronunciation: vah-ee shoh-VEHR
"Leva um guarda-chuva. Vai chover mais tarde. (Take an umbrella. It is going to rain later.)"
Other Weather Conditions
Pronunciation: esh-TAH ven-TAHN-doo
"Está ventando muito na praia hoje. (It is very windy at the beach today.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH neh-VAHN-doo
"Olha, está nevando! Nunca vi neve antes. (Look, it is snowing! I have never seen snow before.)"
Pronunciation: esh-TAH troh-veh-ZHAHN-doo
"Está trovejando. Melhor não sair. (It is thundering. Better not go out.)"
Pronunciation: tayn neh-BLEE-nah / esh-TAH neh-voh-AY-roo
"Tem muita neblina na estrada. Dirija com cuidado. (There is a lot of fog on the road. Drive carefully.)"
Seasonal Vocabulary
Pronunciation: pree-mah-VEH-rah, veh-ROWN, oh-TOH-noo, een-VEHR-noo
"No Brasil, o verão é de dezembro a março. (In Brazil, summer is from December to March.)"
Seasons Below the Equator
Remember that Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere. When it is winter in North America and Europe, it is summer in Brazil. If your partner is Brazilian, their seasonal references might be opposite to what you expect.
Romantic Weather Expressions
Pronunciation: oom JEE-ah pehr-FAY-too PAH-rah fee-KAHR nah KAH-mah
"Está chovendo. É um dia perfeito para ficar na cama. (It is raining. It is a perfect day to stay in bed.)"
Pronunciation: VAH-mohs ah-sees-CHEER ah SHOO-vah ZHOON-toosh
"Vem cá, amor. Vamos assistir a chuva juntos. (Come here, love. Let us watch the rain together.)"
Pronunciation: voh-SEH eh MEH-oo sohl
"Mesmo quando chove, você é meu sol. (Even when it rains, you are my sunshine.)"
Pronunciation: TEM-poo bom PAH-rah oom shoh-koh-LAH-chee KEN-chee
"Está frio. Tempo bom para um chocolate quente a dois. (It is cold. Good weather for a hot chocolate for two.)"
Weather vocabulary opens doors to everyday conversations. Practice by checking the weather forecast in Portuguese and describing it to your partner. Soon these expressions will become second nature.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you describe a 'heatwave' in Portuguese?
A heatwave is described as 'onda de calor'. You can say, "Estamos passando por uma onda de calor" (We are experiencing a heatwave). This phrase is helpful for discussing unusually hot weather conditions. Couples can use this phrase when planning outdoor activities during the summer.
What's the difference between 'tempo' and 'clima' in Portuguese?
'Tempo' refers to the weather at a specific moment, while 'clima' refers to the general weather patterns of a region over time. You'd ask, "Qual é o tempo hoje?" (What's the weather like today?) but discuss the "clima tropical" (tropical climate) of Brazil. This distinction helps avoid confusion in conversations.
How can I ask if it's going to rain later in Portuguese?
You can ask, "Vai chover mais tarde?" (Is it going to rain later?) or "A previsão do tempo diz que vai chover?" (Does the weather forecast say it will rain?). This is useful for planning your day. Couples can use this when deciding on outdoor or indoor activities.
What are some romantic phrases to use during a rainy day in Portuguese?
You can say, "Adoro dias chuvosos com você" (I love rainy days with you) or "Vamos assistir a um filme juntinhos porque está chovendo" (Let's watch a movie together because it's raining). These phrases can create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Couples can use these phrases to enhance their romantic moments.
How do you say 'it's freezing' in Portuguese, and what are some other ways to express extreme cold?
'It's freezing' can be translated as 'Está congelando'. You can also say 'Está um frio de rachar' (It's bone-chilling cold) or 'Está fazendo um frio terrível' (It's terribly cold). These phrases are useful for expressing discomfort during cold weather. Couples can playfully complain about the cold using these phrases together.
